The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-02-24
HINTS ON DRAINING.
Practical Directions for Improving the
Waste Land on Farms.

| waste Land on Farms.
,, There is on nearly every farm some
piece of land, perhaps it may be s
natural hollow near the building, where
the water is damned in for a part Of
the season by higher land where the
wash and dried leaves have accumu-
lated for years. Such place is emf
! nently suited for understanding. Some
times by digging and maintaining a
large open ditch through the highland.
into which other covered bitches may
run, natural outlet would be formed,
and thus secure the most perfect drain
age at simple expense. This open
ditch should be dug quite wide at the
top, narrowing down gradually to the
bottom and should be looked after every
year. keeping it a little deeper than the
drains that run into it. Oftentimes. for
acres, surface drains can be run into
this open ditch made by blowing the
land into beds, which will answer a very
good purpose. but for all hOed, especially
where it is desirable to work the land
early, thorough undertaking would be
advisable where the land is deep enough
to require it. As to the best material to
be used there may be some doubt. Pos
sibly stones may be used to advantage
in some locations, or logs of wood with
holes running through them lengthwise,
or three strips of boards. nailed together
in triangular form and covered il
bottom of the ditch. have been known
to do good work for many years. But
where tile can be obtained rs cheaply
as in most locations. there is no doubt
it is every way the best.
Iprefer to drain land in August. Sep
TENDER or October. | do not think it
iudiciOuS to commence work later in the
year. Undertaking should be COM
menced and prosecuted in dry time,
finishing it up as quickly as possible.
In the commencement look over care
fully the piece to be drained. using
Judgment and common sense in locating
the bitches. The outlet must be the
lowest point, and the main bitches
should be through the lowest land.
The laterals should enter the main
bitches in the direction of the outlet,
and no two should be placed oppo-
site. The distance apart will depend
upon circumstances. On moist or mod
erately wet land. for grass or other
field crops. 80, 40 or even 80 feet
will do: but on wet, retentive land, de-
signed for valuable stock or chance
vegetables, ID, 20 to % feet apart would
be necessary.
If the piece to be drained is large and
nearly level, it would be better to en-
ploy an engineer with leveling instru-
ments. and have the depth to be dug
marked on stakes all over the piece.
Although a very slight fall will do.
two inches to the hundred feet, yet it is
always best to have more if possible.
For long bitches, a pillow can fire.
quently be used to advantage, even the
second and third time, Where the land
is very generally Notwithstanding
only for nursery and other purposes,
DuC dlSO lcl OIullltiN hClu NlOpS-
buck pillow, something similar to our old
subscribers, is used for lOosening the soil
to the depth of two or three feet, and
in that way large fields are drained to
the depth of four feet at cost of $40
an acre l should not use Il pillow in
striking out, but should cut by line
not over TWEEN ty inches wide, if the soil
was firm enough to stand at that width:
if the soil was of loose texture. the
cut mi ght need to be started two feet
or more in width The good soil
should be thrown on one side,
and the bottom soil on the
other. Ny rule would be fom
feet deep, sometimes more, some
times less. l should not order the
men to dig to the full depth at first, but
have careful man dig to the true
grade afterwards. My implements
would be long, sharp spade for mark
ing out, best crown-pointed, long
handled shovel, and the very best
heavy picks, well sharpened up. With
good. experienced diggers, the ditch
ought not to cost, ready for the tile,
over fifty cents per rod. Do not per-
nit the men to narrow in the bitches as
they 90 down, but keep the si.ies near
" perpendicular to within nine or ten
inches of the bottom.-J ID. Leisure, IN
Toledo BLADE.